Tides of Vengeance Community Opinions: Class Changes and State of Enhancement Shaman

We're bringing back some Community Opinion articles in preparation for Tides of Vengeance. Our first one for Tides of Vengeance will be focused on Enhancement Shaman.\r\rPlease remember that these are opinions. You may not agree with the opinions stated in this article and you are welcome to your own opinion to the state of the class and spec. Please feel free to leave any feedback regarding this type of article in the comments.\r\rLooking for more detailed information on Tides of Vengeance? We have a Comprehensive List of Class Changes and Comprehensive List of Azerite Changes for Tides of Vengeance.\r\rFor more information on Enhancement, check out our Enhancement Shaman Guide, written by Wordup who participated in this opinion article.\r\r\r\rContributors\r\rThis is compiled by Enhancement theorycrafters as representatives for the Shaman discord Earthshrine they contribute to. Make sure to check out the Earthshrine Discord!\rRusah - Theorycrafter, SimC dev. Twitter: @Addiction_Rusah\rSurge - Long time theorycrafter\rWordup - Guide Writer & theorycrafter. Twitter: @von_wordup\rShockd - Consistently High Ranked Enhancement PvP Player. Twitch: Hahashockd\r\rEnhancement Shaman\r\r8.1 Enhancement Updates\r\rWhile we're happy that talents are being looked at, many players are left with a sour taste given how late these changes have come. The final month of the BfA Beta cycle included mostly numerical adjustments for other specializations so there is no reason for such simplistic updates to be delayed for 4 months when they could have just been hotfixed. Statements from Blizzard in pre-launch Q&A segments indicated that Enhancement would require more focused attention than could be provided between patches. However, the 8.1 patch will include a wave of tuning changes -- that look like they could've been hotfixed at launch -- coupled with nothing that gives the impression that time was spent developing solutions for the specialization's mechanical issues. This implies that Enhancement simply wasn't a priority for this patch cycle and our underlying issues are likely to remain untouched at least until the next expansion.\r\rTalent Changes\r\rAt this moment, none of what is changing is going to realistically alter your gameplay nor your decision making when it comes to choosing talents for most content. The purpose of these updates are an attempt to shore up the enormous gaps on each tier with 40% to 100% improvements on nearly every talent adjusted. This is something reflected in WarcraftLogs usage statistics that indicate there is a 98%+ usage for all fights in Uldir on 4 out of 5 damage tiers. These changes simply open up the possibility to play other options if your heart is set on them, but doesn't make them ideal choices, as their gameplay flaws in PvE content still exist. While previously weak talents were numerically not worth choosing, the additional problem is that talents like Bouclier de foudre, Vents vigoureux and Salive embrasée are powerful options for all situations. While Lightning Shield and Forceful Winds were reduced in power, other talents were only brought closer to their now weaker level. Newly improved talents are purely single target only, meaning that even with buffs they'll still remain underutilized in all party and raid content. \r\rHow these changes apply to the spec currently boils down to more open talent selections on the Level 90 row, possibly opening up Tempête écrasante and Fureur de l’Air as options depending on the content. Taking into account all nerfs and buffs, 8.1 represents an approximate 0.5-1% gain to our typical live talent build. Many of the talents that were buffed will be more competitive in certain scenarios but remain mechanically sub-optimal in most PvE content. Investing into single target talents by using Rochepoing\/Glissement de terrain combos and Averse de grêle or Surcharge lose all value as soon as a second target is present in addition to complicating the rotation for no perceivable gain. Currently the PvE \u201cmeta\u201d in both raiding and Mythic+ leans into multi target Cleave and mass AoE situations meaning the likelihood of them rising in popularity is low. Enhancement is a spec that builds momentum during combat in that Porte-tempête by design feeds off itself, so by current design our most powerful talents will always be those that are the least impacted by downtime or require no active maintenance. \r\r\rAura Reset\r\rThe most encouraging aspect of this patch however is the reset of our damage aura from -43% up to 0% with an across the board reduction of all abilities to compensate. This also rolled in the baseline 5% buff to offset the Bouclier de foudre and Vents vigoureux nerfs as part of this adjustment. This is an effort to make the change neutral to our abilitIes current power and make tooltips more consistent. Importantly, none of these changes are nerfs, while they may appear it at first glance. Going forward Blizzard will be able to more precisely tune our Aura, since an attempt to increase our damage by 5% at -43% results in very uneven math. This will hopefully set a clean slate to allow for more elaborate changes down the line; that they're going to the effort of actually resetting our aura implies that they're actively looking at Enhancement.\r\rPvP Implications\r\rThe big takeaway from the patch for Enhancement in PvP is that damage will be going down. The loss of Adhérence statique, a talent that has a huge impact on both our sustained damage and ability to stick to a target is going to be sorely missed. It will also push more usage of Impulsion farouche over Nature's Guardian in order to counteract this loss, removing our reactive survivability. It may be intimidating for non Shaman players to see massive talent buffs across the board but few of them directly buff PvP damage as most of the PvE feedback about mechanically weak talents applies here as well. A lot of the concerns is that these buffs amplify the strengths of Enhancement but this unfortunately won't ring true when the patch hits and will weaken the consistent pressure that Enhancement was known for. The current consensus is that the patch will be a net loss for Enhancement's overall offensive capabilities.\r\rThe biggest problem with the merge of ride and forked lightning is that meeting the conditions of triggering Chaîne d’éclairs unless you find yourself in the mix of the entire team, ranged targets included, will rarely occur. This strongly discourages CC compositions since the new Chevauche la foudre is inflexible, locking Enhancement into a limited number of comps. This forces Enhancement into a support oriented role in teams, relying on tools such as Totem de glèbe, Chamanisme, Totem Fureur-du-ciel, or Charge de tonnerre. Given it is a melee, this reduces the desirability in many higher rated compositions.\r\rWhile Enhancement changes aren't ideal, our single target threat remains and will hopefully still serve a purpose in the upcoming PvP season. Moving towards a more support focused spec however may be a stark shift for players who enjoy the current high damage design.\r\rClosing Thoughts\r\rAs we noted above with regard to these changes, much of our feedback about the spec remains the same. The 8.1 PTR was our hope for an area to test possible remedies to our resource and talent balance problems which unfortunately never manifested. For more detailed analysis feel free to see previous feedback on this topic:\r\rWowhead 19th March 2018\rBeta Feedback 20th June 2018\rWowhead 23rd July 2018\rReddit Megathreads 17th Oct 2018\r\r\rThe following issues still remain, as outlined in the posts linked above:\r\rMaelstrom and ability interaction is still undercooked\rTalents do little to spice up a fairly by the numbers rotation\rLack of a defined niche or specialty both in damage profile and raid desirability

Commentaires

Commentaire de coldwinter18

Buff Restoration Shamans a bit more plz! Or lower the other top 3 healers so we can have balance between us! :O

Commentaire de kaleestraza

on 2018-11-23T14:51:06-06:00

I don't really play shaman, but I feel for yall. This is just horrible, I don't know what Blizzard thinks they are doing just letting an entire subset of players rot on the vine like this.

Commentaire de orionaegis7

on 2018-11-23T14:51:43-06:00

The changes people have been waiting 6 months for... drumroll please!

...nada

Extremely Disappointing.

Commentaire de Grengarm

on 2018-11-23T14:52:45-06:00

Everything about classes in BfA has been a massive disappointment. 8.1 fixed absolutely nothing about the core issues of any spec.\r\rI have very little desire to play WoW with classes in this state. It has nothing to do with balance, and everything to do with mechanics and feel.

Commentaire de RingmasterRyan

on 2018-11-23T14:55:19-06:00

They really need to recheck the talent tiers and their available options as well as azurite traits.\r\rThese two ways of advancing gameplay and skills per class are really hindering almost every spec.... I feel like this is something that could be easily fixed, too. Ugh.

Commentaire de Rakattack

on 2018-11-23T14:57:38-06:00

I'm dumb and don't really play shaman, can anybody help me understand this "-43% damage aura" thing? I don't get what is even meant by "damage aura," and when I try to look it up, I'm just finding references to shaman-specific WeakAuras setups. Thanks in advance if you can help.

Commentaire de zequill

on 2018-11-23T15:02:55-06:00

Is there a lot of spec that use more then 1 set of talent in something as specific as raiding?\r\rWhen you read other class issue, you have a clear idea what their issues is. When I read shaman complaint, it's a lots of word but nothing solid. All I get is there was tone of feedback in alpha, beta, 8.0, 8.1. You know, the classic "I don't know either so i'm sending you search for something that don't exist".

Commentaire de Ardensolis1

on 2018-11-23T15:02:59-06:00

Want to give Blizzard a message they can't ignore? Don't play your shaman.

Commentaire de Picaboo

on 2018-11-23T15:07:19-06:00

When does wow plan on making ferals viable ? Feral is so terrible rn right next to enhancement.

Commentaire de nikolaivelikovv

on 2018-11-23T15:11:46-06:00

It's a total disgrace how unprepared and how unpolished classes in BFA are. It has been what, 4 months since launch, and yet they still don't do anything to sort out the issues with classes. The only thing they do is buff the dmg or reduce it, get it through your thick skulls, NOT EVERYTHING IS TUNED WITH DAMAGE. It's a shame so many people cannot play their beloved classes, just because someone doesn't know how to do their job properly.

Commentaire de cleric670

on 2018-11-23T15:15:52-06:00

Blizzard sure knows how to demoralize their player base.

Commentaire de Slayer1520

on 2018-11-23T15:18:09-06:00

I'm dumb and don't really play shaman, can anybody help me understand this "-43% damage aura" thing? I don't get what is even meant by "damage aura," and when I try to look it up, I'm just finding references to shaman-specific WeakAuras setups. Thanks in advance if you can help.\r\r\rits essentially a blanket modifier to damage overall, instead of tweaking all individual abilities and talents, the damage aura just allows them to change a single number and adjust every damaging ability for a spec. all classes have this and when hotfixes come out saying a 5% increase\/decrease to damage thats that they are changing

Commentaire de kodora1316

on 2018-11-23T15:30:40-06:00

I\u2019ve been playing my enchance troll shammy since burning crusade (off spec resto, never got into ele). I\u2019ve never been less impressed with this spec.

Commentaire de Adairec

on 2018-11-23T16:12:31-06:00

Maybe I'm missing something. Not saying that the class doesn't need fixes or work since you almost never see it in m+. The thing is, I've seen both enhance and ele wreck (17k ST ilvl370ish) when they have been brought along. \r\rIs it that it just isn't fun because or procs or similar in this iteration? It isn't the only class that needs love but this seems to be the most fervernt community.

Commentaire de Eeshen

on 2018-11-23T16:12:41-06:00

Why does ANYONE expect good things from Blizzard? They constantly disappoint when it comes to class balance, often leaving classes broken for long periods of time (SP, Locks) while leaving others, super overpowered (rogues, fire mages).\rAnd when they do decide to help any of the under-powered specs, they throw them a morsel, which doesnt even come close to fixing the class.\r\rThen on top of it all they keep pruning everything !

Commentaire de heartless8604

on 2018-11-23T16:19:53-06:00

Meanwhile Protection Warriors still are the most unplayable spec in game and not a damn thing is being done about it. \r\r\rI've stopped playing wow, and probably for good this time. Activision is just destroying everything.

Commentaire de Crusadyr

on 2018-11-23T16:20:12-06:00

Seriously Blizzard. Properly fix MM hunters.\rNo I don't want to play BM, I never rolled a hunter to play BM. I've been MM for years.\rYou guys ripped the spec to shreds at the end of Legion and still haven't fixed it properly.\rWe have the worst 100 row in the game.\rYou changed us from needing to fish for certain azerite armor pieces that stack the same traits in 8.0 to needing to stack new azerite armor traits in 8.1.\rThen you nerfed the azerite traits that we needed to stack in 8.1.\rYou said multiple times "we don't want you to feel like you need to stack certain traits to be good at your class" then completely throw that idea out the window with MM.\rWe have the most obnoxious cleave\/AoE in the game.\rIt doesn't activate unless you hit 3 enemies and it only spreads up to 5 enemies.\rThat's absolutely a joke.\rThe only class in the game that is limited to the amount of adds it can cleave on. And a 2 fight cleave fight you might as well just pick a target and single target cause there isn't even a way to 2 target cleave.\rIf you are going to keep this terrible design for MM then you need to do a proper numbers pass. There is no reason I should be 3-5k damage per second behind Survival and BM and constantly the bottom tier dps of all the classes.

Commentaire de Almiria

on 2018-11-23T16:30:33-06:00

Buff Restoration Shamans a bit more plz! Or lower the other top 3 healers so we can have balance between us! :O\r\rBalance ? You mean Guardian? Guardian Druid ? Guardian Kultiran Druid ?

Commentaire de Extremeties

on 2018-11-23T16:31:16-06:00

Tank changes are lackluster at best. Guardian Druids, Prot Wars, Veng DH's all scream for help but have received hardly anything at all. What the *!@# Blizzard, What the $%^&.

Commentaire de Zarate

on 2018-11-23T16:54:06-06:00

It has nothing to do with balance, and everything to do with mechanics and feel.\r\rI think this is the cardinal sin of WOW in its current form - we can argue the individual systems like world quests, mythic plus, raids etc. \r\rAt the end of the day every mmo (style) game requires some sort of repetitive content which requires grind in one way or another. When the moment to moment gameplay isn't enjoyable everything falls apart and the grind feels tedious.